Dear Family of God,

Jesus’ message this third Sunday of Lent is that we acknowledge our need of repentance and do it. We may ask, what is repentance?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed.

At the same time, it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life with the hope in God’s mercy and trust in his grace.” (CCC 1431).

Repentance begins with a combination of two things: sorrow for our sins and trust in the mercy of God. If we are sorry for our sins and do not believe we can be forgiven, that leads to despair, not repentance. If we believe God is merciful but we are not contrite of heart, that leads to presumption, not repentance.

There is no limit to God’s mercy but there is limit on our side when to receive it. We have a limited time here on earth and we don’t know when our last chance is. Conversion does not mean to turn away from sin only, it is to desire what God desires, and it is to align our will with His will. It is not a one-time change of heart, but an on-going, daily transformation of our lives until we reach the promised homeland in heaven.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Mercy and St. Joseph intercede for us all to be humble and receive God’s mercy as often as we need in the Sacrament of Confession.

In Christ through Mary Immaculate.

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